looking for low cost food/grocery store, like Aldi's (sale, coupons)

[aiwei]

I am trying to squeeze as much out of our income as possible. Back in IL, we had Aldi's everywhere. This is a low cost food store that has staples and frozen food and sundry. I could consistently find milk, eggs, fresh vegies at prices lower even than Walmart and they have more types of inventory than Dollar General or Big Lots. I know Aldi's is not in AZ, but is there any store similar to it?

[shiphead]

my advice to you is check the store website, newspaper ads, and word of mouth.

Me and my girlfriend spend $30 at the 99 cent stores. Between juice, breads, vegetables, and water, it adds up. We then find $1 deals around town and even walgreens had a buy 3 for $2 deal. Normally 99 cents at the 99 cent store. For the both of us together spend around $60 every 2 weeks.

[AZgarden]

Food City

[CG4]

Food City or the Ranch Market would be good places to start.

[Friend of Sonic]

Fresh and Easy has some great deals occasionally.

[aiwei]

Thanks for all the tips!

[shiphead]

Originally Posted by PhxBarb

Food City

really... i would have never thought

[Chuck-ELP]

Grocery shopping in Phx is somewhat different than it is in many cities because of the sheer number of chains available. For instance in El Paso a city of 800,000, there were only really 3 chains (Wal-Mart, Lowes Super 8 and Albertsons). Specials were few and for low prices you shopped at WM and bought produce in the ethnic groceries. Phx has Safeway, Fry's, WM, Albertsons, TJ's, Basha's, Whole Foods, Food City, and probably others I've forgotten.

Aldi is great if you can find it, but there aren't any in AZ. You know that Trader Joe's is owned by the same company, right? The prices at TJ's aren't as cheap as Aldi and the selection isn't as basic as Aldi, but you can find some deals if you shop carefully.

And careful shopping at multiple stores is what bargain-hunters do in Phx. The best method is to get the weekly ads and buy in bulk the things that are on special. Don't buy impulsively or out of convenience. One large can of tomatoes at Albertoid's regular prices can ruin your savings. In fact, I have a friend who is a manager at Basha's and he says never shop at Basha's or Albertson's unless you're buying loss-leader or other sale items.

Albertson's and Basha's seem to have the highest prices overall; people I talk to say WM and Fry's have the lowest. IMO WM is the cheapest overall, but they don't run many specials.

Stop at the 99 cent stores that sell groceries and get things there. One last suggestion is to use a bargain and coupon finding service like The Grocery Game, found here: Coupons, Grocery Coupons - The Grocery Game :: Home, which I imagine will serve you well in Phx. I don't use the GG because I'm shopping for one, but if you have a family you may find this a great way to save money (note that the GG charges a small fee for its service).

Final suggestions are to find ethnic markets for produce and to purchase a chest freezer and make some extra shelf space for storing bulk purchases.

[Ron-Ad]

There is a great discount grocery store (sells some liquidations and shelf pulls, when the label changes) and lots of great variety, good quality stuff cheap. It is at the corner of 43rd ave and Bell Road. We shop there a lot and have sticker shock when we have to go to a regular grocery store. Prepare to stock up!!!

[Uhuh]

Like others have said. Food City. It is a pretty gross super market. But they have some deals.